We have a committed and expert team of Governors who support and guide the School.

The Governors act as the Trustees of the School in respect of its status as a charity. They provide strategic guidance on the running of the School and are the point of last appeal on issues such as the exclusion of a pupil or employees’ grievances. They are also responsible for appointing the Headmistress and Director of Finance.

The Board of Governors consists of members with a wide range of knowledge and experience. Many are current parents, former parents or past pupils, but some have no previous connection with the School and therefore provide an even broader perspective. They are all volunteers who receive no remuneration and gain no pecuniary advantage from their position, but without them the School could not function either legally or practically.

The full Board meets three times a year and there is a smaller Nominations Panel that is called together twice a year to consider candidates for election as Governors. Committees Finance and General Purposes (F&GP), Education, Safeguarding, Estates, and Business Development also meet three times a year in advance of Board meetings. In addition, Governors meet at least once a year to fulfil their statutory obligations as directors and trustees of the School’s various subsidiary bodies.

Contacting the Governors

The Chair of Governors’ postal address is:

c/o Downe House, Cold Ash, Thatcham, Berkshire, RG18 9JJ

The Chair may also be contacted via the Clerk to Governors, Mr Edward Valletta
Tel: +44(0)1635 200286   Email: VallettaE@downehouse.net

The Board of Governors:

• Mr Timothy Boucher, BA, FCA (Chair of Finance & General Purposes Committee)
• Mr Michael Brennan
• Ms Elizabeth Clarke, BA, CPE
• Mrs Sarah Coiley BA, FCA.
• Ms Veryan Exelby, MA (Chair of Safeguarding Committee)
• Ms Fru Hazlitt, BA
• Mrs Fiona Holmes, BComm
• Mr William Landale, MA (Oxon) MBA
• Ms Sally McNair Scott, LLB (Chair of Governors) – (Chair of Business Deve Com)
• Mr Mark Ridley, BA, MA, MRICS (Chair of Estates Sub-Committee)
• Ms Caroline Ross LLB, CIPD
• Mr Joe Smith, BA MEd PGCE (Chair of Education Committee)
• Mr Simon (Theo) Williams, BSc, MRICS
• Mr Nick Woods, BSc, FCA

Clerk to the Governors: Mr Edward Valletta

Read our Governor Profiles HERE